First lady objects to dolls of Sasha, Malia

First Lady Michelle Obama, who has described herself “first and foremost . . . Malia and Sasha’s mom,” has defended her daughters’ likenesses, saying it is not proper for a company that makes the plush Beanie Babies to produce dolls called Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia.

“We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes,” Obama’s press secretary, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, said in a statement Saturday.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based toy maker Ty Inc. recently released the 12-inch dolls in their collection called TyGirlz. The dolls have soft brown skin and big eyes.

Ty’s website shows Sweet Sasha wearing two pigtails and a pink and white dress; the Marvelous Malia doll wears a blue-green shirt.

The company has said the dolls are not made to be exact replicas of the first couple’s daughters and are not based on the Obama girls.

Since their father’s campaign, fascination with Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, has grown intense, with websites devoted to photos of the girls and what they are wearing.

The girls have become fashion icons. Thousands of people tried ordering the J. Crew coats that the girls wore on Inauguration Day.

Girls across the Washington area watched Malia and Sasha dance at the Kids Inaugural concert at the Verizon Center last Monday. They have read about the sleepover the Obama girls had at the White House and the surprise visit by the Jonas Brothers.

Children have written to invite the girls to join Girl Scout troops, clubs and play groups. Michelle Obama has said she is focused on making sure the girls are settled in their new life in Washington.

On Thursday, Jenna and Barbara Bush, daughters of President George W. Bush, wrote an open letter to Sasha and Malia, giving them advice on living as “family members of a president.”

“Sasha and Malia,” the Bushes wrote in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal, “It isn’t always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. . . . So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.”